Chloé Valdary, Morgan Hamel & Peter Stein on De-Polarized Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Human Risk Podcast

What do you think of when you hear the words Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)? If it's something negative, then this is the episode for you; because I'm exploring how we can transform DE&I from something theoretical but impractical to something that can really work and have a positive impact for everyone. In other words, how we can de-polarize it?
On this milestone 300th episode of the Human Risk podcast, I’m joined by three remarkable guests—Chloé Valdary, Morgan Hamel, and Peter Stein—who are working together to revolutionize how organizations approach DE&I.
Morgan, a former fashion ethicist, shares her story of navigating the challenges of DE&I while running her own business and how it led her to Chloé and Peter's groundbreaking work at The Theory of Enchantment.
Throughout the episode, we explore how their unique approach moves away from traditional and often divisive methods of addressing DE&I. Instead, they advocate for a humanistic approach that fosters genuine connection and respect, even across seemingly insurmountable divides.
If you’ve ever felt disillusioned by standard DE&I strategies, this conversation will open your eyes to a new way of thinking.
You’ll also hear about the challenges of implementing meaningful DE&I practices in today’s polarized world, with real-world examples of companies that have struggled — and sometimes failed — to get it right.
This is a refreshing and practical discussion for leaders and professionals who want to find a more sustainable, inclusive, and human-centred way to manage DE&I in the workplace.
Biography of the Guests
Morgan Hamel describes herself as a fashion ethicist and former compliance officer, now focused on exploring the intersection of ethics, reputation, and diversity in business. Morgan ran her own fashion company, The Garment, where she experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating DE&I, ultimately leading her to close the business. Passionate about finding new solutions to old problems, Morgan now collaborates with Chloe and Peter to help businesses tackle polarization and inclusivity more meaningfully.
Chloé Valdary founded The Theory of Enchantment, an innovative framework for DE&I that emphasizes compassion, curiosity, and emotional resilience. Chloé’s work has gained international recognition for its refreshing take on a traditionally contentious space. She’s committed to depolarizing organizations and fostering environments where diverse perspectives are welcomed and celebrated.
Peter Stein partners with Chloé at The Theory of Enchantment, bringing a broad humanist perspective to the world of DE&I. With a background that spans academia and business, Peter focuses on building bridges across ideological divides, helping organizations heal from the harm caused by poorly implemented DE&I practices. His work is rooted in a belief that compassion and open dialogue are key to effective change.
AI-Generated Timestamped Summary

• [00:00:00] Introduction: 300th episode celebration and series overview
  
• [00:01:00] Introducing guests: Morgan, Chloe, and Peter's unique collaboration
  
• [00:03:00] Morgan shares her journey from running a fashion company to her current focus on ethics and DE&I.
  
• [00:09:00] The difficulty of finding DE&I approaches that unify rather than divide.
  
• [00:16:00] Chloe discusses the harm caused by mainstream DE&I practices and the need for more human-centered approaches.
  
• [00:22:00] Peter shares stories of organizations harmed by divisive DE&I programs.
  
• [00:36:00] Morgan’s reflections on the value of the Theory of Enchantment’s work in depolarizing organizations.
  
• [00:50:00] The power of viewpoint diversity and why curiosity is key to effective DE&I.
  
• [00:54:00] Conclusion: What to expect in future episodes featuring more in-depth interviews with each guest.

Links
Theory of Enchantment website: https://theoryofenchantment.com
Morgan's website: https://www.morganhamel.com/
The Governance Certificate in Depolarization run by Morgan: https://www.cpaalberta.ca/Professional-Development/Executive-Programs/Governance-Certificate-in-De-Polarization
Jordan Peterson's interview with Chloé: https://youtu.be/3rZkv_prTOk?si=MyPXub1_0AMM-4S0
John McWhorter’s book, Woke Racism: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/696856/woke-racism-by-john-mcwhorter/
Bud Light Diversity Controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_Light_boycott